Lowden Extends Lead Over Reid in Nevada

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," January 12, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: Harry Reid's big mouth is only part of what's gotten him in trouble. His ultra liberal policies are not very popular in his home state. And his Republican challenger is giving him a run for his money.

Now according to the latest poll Republicans Senate candidate Sue Lowden, has established a double-digit lead over Harry Reid. And if Reid is banished from the Senate, well, we may heard a thing.

Joining me now is Nevada state candidate and future senator from the great state of Nevada, Sue Lowden.

Sue, welcome back.

SUE LOWDEN, U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: Hi, Sean thanks. I'm happy to be here tonight.

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HANNITY: Well, we appreciate your being here. First of all, what is your take on the initial statement in this particular case? Light-skinned African-American, no negro dialect. What's your reaction to that?

LOWDEN: Well, you know, it's embarrassing for us here in Nevada. But we are used to this kind of pattern of offensive language from Senator Reid over the years. He has said things such as former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan was a political hack.

He said that we've lost the war, while our sons and daughters were in the midst of battle in Iraq. He has said that the tourists smell at the capital. And it just goes on and on. He's — it's an embarrassing situation that we have here in Nevada.

This is not the first time this has happened. There's been numerous times he's made comments when we've been embarrassed.

HANNITY: Do you think — based on these comments, do you think they are racist comments?

LOWDEN: Well, I don't know what's in his heart. It's hard for me to judge what's in his heart. But like I said it's a pattern and we're used to it here in Nevada. We've continually have to defend the things that he has said over the years.

And it's unfortunate. What I do know is that if a Republican had said that, if Senator McConnell had said and certainly we remember what happened to Trent Lott, the Democrats would be screaming for them to resign. And it truly is a double standard.

• Great American Blog: Do you think there's a double standard?

HANNITY: Do you think he should resign at least from his post, if not the Senate? Do you have any thoughts on that?

LOWDEN: You know it's not for us to decide. That's a position that's decided within the Democrat ranks and they've surrounded him and they have made it sound as though it's fine for him to keep his majority position. The president has even come to his defense.

But like I said, if it were a Republican who had said that, they'd be screaming for his resignation.

HANNITY: Yes, I think one other thing that — he's given this apology but he's never really explained exactly what it is that he meant. And I think — you know, I think he owes it to a lot of people, especially people in your state, to kind of explain, well, what did you mean by that? And would you like at least a further explanation of what he said?

LOWDEN: Sean, he's so out of touch with what's really going on here in Nevada and clearly now in the country that even if he further explained any more, it probably wouldn't make sense to us.

He's clearly out of touch with the folks here who put him into office in the first place. I mean we — if I could change the subject for a moment, you know, we are first in foreclosure rate in the country. We are second highest unemployment rate here in the country.

Folks are hurting here very badly. So, you know, we look at this as he's turned his back on Nevada. And these comments are just a pattern of what we hear from him over and over again. And frankly, it's embarrassing.

When I see folks at the grocery store or I pick up my granddaughter at school, you know, people talk to me about this and I tell them to go to SueLowden.com and to learn a little bit more about me and to try to support my campaign.

You know, and we're working very hard here to make sure this is the last 11 months in office for Harry Reid.

HANNITY: All right, well, the latest poll not only has you up by double digits, but he has a 52 percent of the people of the state have an unfavorable opinion. Another 15 percent are neutral. So he does not have a strong base. What's happened to him in the state where he was once popular? What's happened there?

LOWDEN: Those numbers are astonishing, aren't they? Even to me. But the truth is, he has turned his back on those of us here in Nevada. He hasn't been working for us. And like these comments are just a pattern of comments that he's made over the years and it has been embarrassing.

We are really hurting here in Nevada. We watched him allow the president to say negative comments about Las Vegas, to tell folks not to come to Las Vegas. And Senator Reid stood by and allowed him to say that. And frankly dozens and dozens of conventions walked away from coming here to Las Vegas.

We lost millions of dollars. People lost their jobs because of those comments. And Senator Reid, allowed him to say that without making any comments, without coming to our defense here in Las Vegas.

It's really a shame. But the good news is, there's only 11 months to go. And like I said, if you tune into SueLowden.com you can learn more about me. And I intend to defeat Harry Reid in November and I intend to be the next United States senator from Nevada.

HANNITY: By the way, I recommend everybody go to Vegas. I love it. It's one of my favorite cities and it's a lot of fun. And by the way, I did not leave any tax money the last time I was there. I won and I won pretty big but it was kind of lucky.

LOWDEN: Well, then you have to come back. You need to come back because we need —

HANNITY: We are.

LOWDEN: We need to square that up.

HANNITY: We have a freedom concert in August and I'll invite you and Harry Reid to come out now and have a mini-debate on the stage.

LOWDEN: That would be great. Thank you. Thank you, Sean.

HANNITY: With Lynyrd Skynyrd, Michael W and Charlie Daniels, so whoever sings the best version of the "Devil Went Down to Georgia."

LOWDEN: Right.

HANNITY: Sue Lowden, thank you. We'll follow the campaign closely. We appreciate you being with us.

LOWDEN: Thank you.

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